The Valley Metro light rail transit line was the first rail transit system to be implemented in the City of Phoenix with branch lines serving outlying communities like Mesa and Tempe. The first step was to complete an environmental study.

The proposed East Valley Corridor would follow Apache Boulevard through Tempe. The line would run in the street using a dedicated side running or curb configuration. Both sets of track allowing bi-direction travel would be situated same shoulder of Apache Boulevard. POITRA Visual was selected to provide design visualization services for the study. Visual simulations would be used to help explain the various alternatives and visual impacts to the public.

Photo-simulation was determined to be the best medium for accurate visual evaluation and for confident presentation to public stakeholders.

Mouse-over images above to toggle between the existing photo and the photosimulation.

POITRA created the photo-simulation on an Engineer provided photograph. The existing laneage and traffic was also shifted to match the conceptual design plans which included a bikeway and other corridor elements. These tasks were accomplished using traditonal digital painting techniques.

The Siemens Duewag 100 LRT vehicle was the study's prefered vehicle. Modelers at POITRA had previously created a detailed technical model of the SD100 directly from manufacturers specification sheets. The special Valley Metro Tempe Red Train color scheme was applied.

POITRA then created a 3D site model that included the track bed, rails, overhead catenary system and POITRA model Siemens Duewag 100 LRT vehicle. The models were camera matched, lighted, rendered and composited with the base photograph to create the final simulation.

POITRA graphic artists created a display panel for each simulation in the Valley Metro Tempe series to be printed for public meetings.

The finished photo-simulations were used in Valley Metro's meetings with the City of Tempe and other governmental and public stakeholders. The final images were also used in project environmental documents.